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The expose of what happened, and the failure of the Church to respond appropriately to his misconduct, led to the current Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, saying she was “greatly shocked and distressed” by what she described as a “devastating account” of Ball’s abuse.

"Horrendous crimes"

She said: “I have read Dame Moira’s report and am greatly shocked and distressed by its content.

Peter Ball arrives at Taunton Magistrates' Court in 2014

"The report presents a devastating account of Peter Ball’s abuse and it is a matter of deep shame and regret that a Bishop in the Church of England committed such horrendous crimes and that as a Church we repeatedly failed to act and protect those who came forward for help.

“I feel immensely sad that Neil Todd took his own life and is not with us today - I wish to commend his tenacity and courage and that of other victims and survivors.

Ball when he was a bishop

“There are no excuses for what took place.

“The Church commissioned this review so we could learn from our failings. I, alongside my staff team, remain committed to striving for the highest level of safeguarding in the Diocese of Gloucester and making our churches the safest places they can possibly be. We will continue to work with the National Safeguarding Team and act upon the recommendations made in the report.

“Any survivors or those with information about church-related abuse must know that they will be listened to in confidence, with genuine openness and empathy.”

The Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek

Ball, a former bishop of both Gloucester and Lewes, was jailed in October 2015 for the grooming, sexual exploitation and abuse of 18 vulnerable young men aged 17-25 who had sought spiritual guidance from him between 1977 and 1992.

He was released from prison in February after serving 16 months, much to the anger of his victims.

He is now reportedly 85 and is thought to be living with his twin brother in the UK.

He refused to cooperate with the independent review.

In its concluding remarks, Dame Moira notes: “Peter Ball betrayed his Church and abused individual followers of that Church.

“The Church, at its most senior levels and over many years, supported him unwisely and displayed little care for his victims.”

She added: “Such perverse and sustained abuse by a senior figure in the Church and the Church’s failure to safeguard so many boys and young men still casts a long shadow.

“The Church needs firmly to reassert the priority it places on achieving the highest possible standard of safeguarding practice.”

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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the report on the church’s handling of Ball made “harrowing reading”.

“The church colluded and concealed rather than seeking to help those who were brave enough to come forward. This is inexcusable and shocking behaviour,” he said.

“To the survivors who were brave enough to share their story and bring Peter Ball to justice, I once again offer an unreserved apology. There are no excuses whatsoever for what took place and the systemic abuse of trust perpetrated by Peter Ball over decades.”

Ball was Bishop of Lewes from 1977 to 1992 and Bishop of Gloucester from 1992 until he resigned in 1993.

He founded the Monastic Order of Community of the Glorious Ascension at Stratford Park in Stroud with his brother and was Prior there from 1960 to 1977.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “It is utterly disgraceful to discover that collusion at the heart of the Church of England led to the abuse of so many young men and boys.

"Abuse can happen in any institution or walk of life and we must ensure it can never be covered up by the powerful. Abuse in our most revered institutions must be exposed and investigated, offenders brought to justice, and victims given confidence to come forward.”